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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Face of Defense: 10th Mountain Gets First Female Brigadier

By Army Spc. Osama Ayyad 10th Mountain Division

FORT DRUM, N.Y., August 19, 2015 — Army Col. Diana Holland,
the 10th Mountain Division’s deputy commander for support, was promoted to
brigadier general and became the first woman to serve as deputy commanding
general in any Army light infantry division during a July 29 ceremony here.

Holland, who has served in that position since her arrival
here in May, is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this fall as the division’s
deputy commanding general for support, in support of Operation Resolute
Support.

Holland previously deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division
to Iraq in 2004 and led the 92nd Engineer Battalion and the 130th Engineer
Brigade during deployments in Afghanistan.

Because of her qualifications and previous assignments,
Holland is well-equipped to be the DCG-S during the division headquarters'
upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, said Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister,
10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum commander.

Accomplished Officer

"The missions we have during our next deployment are
right along her DNA," Bannister said during Holland's promotion ceremony.

Holland was among 895 second lieutenants who graduated from
the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1990. It was the 10th class
to graduate women and the first to have a female cadet serve as first captain,
the highest leadership position in the Corp of Cadets.

Approximately 2,000 of the 7,000 lieutenants who received
their commission that year went on to reach the rank of colonel, and only 40
have been selected to become brigadier generals.

"That's a heck of a cut," Bannister said.
"It's a little more than competence. It's about the character and about
the reputation that you from the 2,000 to that half of a percentage point who
become generals."

After postponing her promotion ceremony so family and
friends could attend, Holland began her remarks by making sure her audience
could hear her, including the few in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, who watched
the ceremony via teleconference.

Many of her friends and colleagues traveled to attend the
ceremony, during which she thanked all for their support.

Recognizing Noncommissioned Officers

Holland also gave special recognition of the noncommissioned
officers with whom she has worked throughout her career, recalling the names of
every enlisted soldier who was part of her command teams: her platoon sergeant
when she was a platoon leader, her first sergeant when she was a company
commander, and her command sergeants major as a battalion and brigade
commander.

"As a leader in the Army, we are charged with inspiring
our soldiers," Holland said. "But I often found myself inspired by
them.”

She added, "Our soldiers accomplish amazing things
every day and under incredible stress, and, when the going gets tough and the
mission seems insurmountable, they raise their hands and say 'send me.'”

Serving with soldiers “is a privilege, and I am forever
grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such great Americans,"
Holland said.

"It is no wonder that we are, and continue to be, the
greatest army in the world," she said.

Previously, 18 of the Army's 308 generals were women. Now
Holland has joined their ranks.